Safety lamp lock



Dec. 23, 1930. R. A. MOORE 1,786,409

SAFETY LAMP LOCK Filed Jan. 29, 1929 Patented Dec. 23,1930,

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE ROBERT A; MOORE, or NEW YORK, N. Y; AssIeNoR 'ro MULTIPLE SELLING CORPORA- TION, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY L M Loox Application filed January 29, 1929. Serial No. 335,786.

This invention relates to locking devices and more particularly to lamp locks.

' One object of the invention is to provide an improved locking device for interengagner upon the male member and is movable in the direction of the axis ofthe said male member. Another object of the invention is to construct a device of the type mentioned having aloeking member movably mounted on the male member of a pair of interengaging male and'female screw members, there being an actuator having detachable engagement with the locking member to withdraw the same from looking engagement, and having improved coaction with the mounting for the locking member to facilitate the operation of the device. r

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the type mentioned which comprises few and simple parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, convenient to apply and use, rugged and compact in construction, and reliable and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other obj ects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds. I

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter de scribed in their preferred embodiments,

pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Fig. 3 is a view of the invention applied to the male member.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the application of the actuator for unlocking the device.

Fig; 5 is a side view of the complete actua tor tool.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same with parts removed. V The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all, of its features and instrumentahties are combmed in one and the same structure, but, useful de- Vices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention. r

Generally described, the invention provides a locking device which is applicable to male and female interengaging screw memdescribed in my patent issued in the United States on April 23rd, 1929, No. 1,710,373. This locking member has its opposite side edges lying along an angle with the tangent to the male member, in this case, the lamp base. These opposite edges are adapted to cut into the circular walls of the interengaging members to prevent unscrewing of the same. Movably supporting the locking member is a resilient armwhich is carried by a ring disposed about the male member. This ring is preferably placed on the malemember'before the same is threaded into the female member and is disposed'so as to accurately carry the look ing member into the space between the said circular walls, without requiring handling or manipulation on the part of the operator. The said ring is preferably of angular construction in cross section and includes .a flange coaxial with the male member and another fla ge ext nding at right angles thereto.

The said arm is positioned within the coaxial flange referred to and has one of its ends rigidly secur d thereto. Being made of comparatively thin metal, both the arm and its supporting flange are insertable into the socket between the male member and the sleeve of insulation. The carrying flange has a cut-out to receive the locking member. EX- tending from the said arm throughthe said cut-out is a retractor portion which is adapted to be detachably engaged by an actuator, the latter having bearin g rel ation with the laterally extending flange to permit a pull or tension to be exerted on the arm to deflect the same and withdraw the locking member from between the walls of the male and female in terengaging members. 'lVhere the invention is applied in connection with a lamp base having a projection of solder to secure the leading-in wire of a filament, the carrying flange mayhave an opening to receive this projection.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same includes a ring 11 which is preferably of one-piece construction and can be made of any suitable material possessing sutlicient strength and stitl'ness to adequately su sport the locking member. The ring 11 is preferably of closed form although it will be appreciated that it can also be open. The ring may be stamped of thin sheet metal so as-to be of angular cross section, including a vertical flange 12 extending coaxially with the male member, and a laterally extending flange 13 lying atright angles thereto. Disposed within the annular flange 12 is an arcuate arm 1 1 whichextendstherealong. The said arm is securedto the flange 12 in any suitable manner as, for example, by spot welding at 15. From that point. the arm extends through. an angle of approximately 180 in increasingly spaced relation to the flange 12, but nevertheless in relative proximity thereto throughoin. its length. 'Vv hile the upper edge 16 ofthe arm lies approximately in the plane of the upper edge of the flange 12, the lower edge 17 of the said arm lies spaced inwardfrom the bottom edge of the flange 12 represented by the bend 18. At its free end the arm 14 has a locking member 19 that extends upward from the said arm in the general direction of the axis of the male member into the space between the circular walls of the interengaging male and female members. Since the opposite-edges 2O an-d.21 of thelocking member lie along an angle with the tangent to the male member, these edges will tend to bite into the said circular walls as hereinafter more particularly described. A cut-out 22 in the flange 12 is acapted toreceive the locking member and. to provide ample clearance therefor. Extending downward trom'the arm 14 is a retractor 23 having a head 24. This retraetor lies within the. cut-out mentioned.

The manner of applying the device 10 will now be clearly apparent. 25 represents one type of unit cmnprising interengaging male and female screw members which take the term or a socket 26 and a lamp base 27. The socket is or" conventional construction including a casing 250, a sleeve of insulation 28 therein, and a. contact shell 29 within the The contact shell terminates at 30 within the opening of the socket and in spaced relation to the ends of the casing and insulating sleeve. The lamp base is of conventional construction and includes a metal 1112 lo contact shell 81 having near its line of junction with the bulb a projection or tit of solder 32 that serves to form a connection between the shell 31 and a leading-in wire of the filaments. The device 10 is applied over the male member or lamp base 27 approximately to the lineof junction of the lamp base with the glass body of the lamp. The bond at 18 forms an entrance facilitating the positioning of the ring on the lamp base, particularly in view of the fact that the edge 17 of the arm is in spaced relation to the said bend. The flange 12 acts as a collar and receives the lamp base with a slight degree of clearanceand the said flange accommodates the projection of solder 32 by means of an opening 34 that receives the same. This projection ot solder accordingly acts asa means for aidinein holding the ring 11 comparatively rigidly on the lamp base. The looking member 19 extends alongside the lamp base and in the direction of the thereof. The retractor 23 passes downward through the cut-out 22 to allow for the bulge at in the glass body 36 of the lamp. The retractor may be bent outward slightly at 37 so that the head 24 lies in close proximity to the said glass body. With the device 10 positioned on the lamp base, the latter is screwed into the socket 26. causing the locking member 19 to enter between the circular walls of the interengaging members. and more particularlv. between the-lamp base and the contact shell 29. Coincidentally. the flange 12 enters the socket to lie disposed within the sleeve of insulation and along the end of the said contact shell. The arm 14: will at this t me be comparatively stationary between the flange 12 and the lamp base. where it may be re ained with a. slight clearance. The flange 13 lies in proximity to the end of the socketand its ciameter approximately equal to that of the casing oi the socl et.

On attempting to unscrew the male member orlamp base from the socket. the oppo s te edges 20 and 21 o'i' thelocking member 19 bite into the circular walls and so prevent unscrewing. The head 24 of the retractor can. however, be engaged by a suitable tool 37 to exert a-pull on the arm 14 in an axial direction and thus withdraw the locking member from between the lamp base and 7 socket' When thus withdrawn, the tension locking member will not be able to engage between the lamp base and the wall of the socket. Thus the lamp base may be conveniently unscrewed from the socket.

The actuator or tool 37 may be of any convenient type, and for the sake of illustration may be shown as including a metal shank 38 having a handle 39 of insulating material, or the like. The shank 38 has an offset-portion 40 at its free end whichofi'set portion is formed with a pair of spaced lugs 41 that are reversely bent to form hooks. Extending laterally from'the portion a0 is an arm 42 which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The end 43 of this arm acts as a pivot point and is disposed beyond the lugs 41 to contact the underside of the flange 13 when the lugs 41 are engaged over'the head 24;. As thus positioned, the tool 37 has bearing engagement with the ring 13 so that on moving the tool laterally as shown by arrow at in Fig. 4, a pull is exerted on the retractor in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the lamp base to withdraw the locking member from holding position. The device shown in Fig. 4 thus represents all of the features entering into the invention and illustrates the simple coaction of the parts and the ease with which they may be manipulated.

It will be appreciated that within the scope of the invention various modifications may be made, as, for example, with relation to the character of the ring 11 in which the flanges l2 and 13 may be altered or reduced, and made if desired for screw co-operation with the male member or lamp base. Further it is noted that the locking member 19 need not enter at all between the threads of the interengaging screw members, but that it will suffice that it enter between the circular walls of the said members.

4 I claim i 1. A lamp locking device, including, in combination, male and female interengaging screw members, a support mounted on the male member, a locking member extending between the circular walls of the interengaging members, said locking member having edges lying along an angle with the tangent to the male member to bite into the said circular walls on attempting to unscrew the male member, means on the support movably carrying the locking member for withdrawal from between the said circular walls, and other means to withdraw the locking member to permit the male member to be unscrewed.

2. A lamp locking device, including, in combination, male and female interengaging screw"members, a lock between the screw walls of said interengaging membersto prevent un'screwing'of the same, and means on the-malemember'carrying the lock for movementin a direction parallel-to-the axis of the male'member for withdrawal of the look from between the screw walls to permit unscrewing of the members.

v3. A lamp locking device, including, a

socket, amal'e memberhavin'g: screw engagement in the socket and makingelec'trical contac t therewith, said socketf having a casing,-a sleeve ofinsulation-therein, and a contact shell in the sleeve of insulation, the contact shell terminating in spaced relation to the end of the casing,a ring mounted on the male member, said'ring-lying within the casing between'theend thereof and'the end of the contactshell, a locking member having opposite edges disposed along an angle with the tangent tothe malemembe'rgsaid locking member extending between the contact shell and thescrew. wall of thema'le member to prevent unscrewingof the latter, and means movably mounting thelocking member on the ring topermit withdrawal'of the locking member frombetween the contact shell and the screw wall'of the male member. 1

A lamp locking device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said ring includes a laterally extending shoulder portion outside of the s0cket,'and actuator means to detachably engage the locking member, said actuatormeans having bearing engagement with the shoulder to permit the same to exert a pull on the locking member for withdrawal of thesame.

5; A lamp locking-device, including male and female interengagingscrew 1nembers,fa locking member having opposite edges dis posed along-an angle with the tangent to the male member,said locking member extend ing between the circular walls of the inter engaging members to prevent unscrewing of the same, a ring on the male member outside of the female member, means mounting the locking member on the ring for move ment in-the directionof the axis of the male member for withdrawal of thelocking member from betweeuthe said circular 1 walls, said ring comprising a laterally extending shoulder portion, and an-actuator having detachableengagen'ient withthe locking member and bearing engagement with the said shoulder portion to exert a pull on the lockingdmemberfor withdrawal thereof as aforesai 1 6. A lamplocking device, including, in combination, male and female inte'rengaging screw members, aring mounted on the male member, said ring being of angle cross section to include annular flanges one of which is coaxial with'the male member, and the other of which extends at an angle to the axisithereof, .a locking member extending between the circular walls of the screw members and having. its opposite edges lying along an angle with the tangent to the male member to bite into the said Walls on at tempting to unscrew the male members, an arcuate arm connected to the said coaxial flange and extending therealong, said locking member being mounted on the end of said arm to remove the locking member from looking engagement, said means including a detachable actuator having bearing engagement with the angularly extending flange to exert a pull in an axial direction on said arm.

7. A lamp locking device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the said coaxial flange has a cut-out to receive the locking member.

8. A lamplocking device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said male and female interengaging. screw members consist of a lamp base, and a socket, the lamp base having a projection of solder for a terminal of the filament connection, the said coaxial flange having an opening to receive said projection.

9. A lamp locking device as set forth in claim.5, wherein said locking member includes a coacting headed retractor portion, and said actuator has-a pair of spaced lugs to take over the head of the retractor, and a lever arm pivotally bearing on the shoulder portion.

10. A lamp locking device, including a lamp base, a socket therefor, said lamp base having a projection of solder for a terminal of the filament connection, a supporting element mounted on the lamp base and in engagement with said projection, and a locking member carried by the supporting element, said locking member being engageable with the socket coincident with the engagement of the lamp base in the socket to prevent removal of the lamp base from the socket.

11. A device including, in combination, male and female interengaging screw members, a circular member engagingremovably around the male member and carried thereby, and a locking member carried by the circular member to prevent unscrewing of the male and female members, said locking member being positioned adjacent to the thread of said male member and extending in a generally axial direction, said locking member being inserted between the threads of the male and female members and having a small cross section to be so insertable coincident with the interengagement of the male and female members, in which position of the same the circular member lies uniformly at the opening of the female member, said look ing member being of a length to enter substantially only to the extent of a thread into the female member. 7 V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature ROBERT A. MOORE 

